NRL 2024: Cronulla Sharks win 16-12 over New Zealand Warriors | Match Report

The Warriors may have dominated early, but the Sharks made a statement to start their season, keeping the opposition scoreless in the second half to secure a gutsy win in New Zealand.

The Sharks have survived an early Warriors onslaught to claim victory in New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

A last-minute try-saving tackle by halfback Nicho Hynes on Warriors backrower Jackson Ford typified a gutsy effort by the Cronulla Sharks at GO Media Stadium on Friday night.

The Warriors dominated the first half but were kept scoreless for 67 minutes, the Sharks’ three tries and defensive resilience silencing a typically partisan and sold-out home crowd.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said it was one of the club’s “most special wins”.

“I’m really proud of the boys’ efforts and we capitalised on hard work over the summer.

“They kept turning up for each other … we can play some better footy but in terms of turning up for each other, the resilience, I’m very proud of that effort.

“We missed the kick physically and they got the jump on us. But after we were down 12-0 they had three sets on our try line and it was like we had to blow the cobwebs away.

“But the display of heart and effort, it was one of our most special wins, I think,” Fitzgibbon said.

The spotlight may have been on Roger Tuivasa-Scheck’s NRL return, but it was a try-saving tackle by Cronulla Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes that secured a Sharks win. Picture: Getty Images

RETURN OF RTS

It was 964 days since his last game in the NRL but Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s return to big time rugby league showed plenty of the dynamism that made him 2018 Dally M Player of the Year.

After two years in Super Rugby, Tuivasa-Sheck’s first touch was a backhanded flick to nobody.

But from there the 30-year-old was a bundle of potential energy at left centre, running for 132 metres with 48m post-contact. He also broke three tackles and offloaded twice.

Addin Fonua-Blake proved a handful for his future team, scoring the opening try of the game and threatening to bust them open with every run. Picture: Getty Images

SHARKS PARKED

In the seventh minute after a quick play-the-ball by Luke Metcalf, Addin Fonua-Blake, Cronulla bound in 2025, ran off Wayde Egan to open the scoring with a blockbusting effort from two metres out.

Metcalf then channelled Tuivasa-Sheck circa 2013 when he beat four Sharks who barely grazed him on a jinking, 25-metre bolt to the line.

But the Sharks didn’t go away. Jesse Ramien’s burrowing dart from dummy-half and Trindall’s long-distance conversion got their team within a converted try at halftime despite a third of the possession and scant territory.

Two minutes into the second stanza the Sharks were in again when a simple backline play saw Mulitalo slide over in the left corner.

Talakai’s 58th minute try and Hynes’ conversion saw their team take a matchwinning lead.

Egan went off with an elbow injury following an ugly over-extension.

Warriors hooker Wayde Egan could be facing a stint on the sidelines after he was forced from the field with a nasty elbow injury. Picture: Getty Images

REFEREE PRESSURED

As the Raiders did on Thursday night, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak clutched at his jaw to indicate that referee Peter Gough should issue a penalty following a shot by Braydon Trindall. Gough did that and also put Trindall on report.

Watene-Zelezniak and his captain Tohu Harris later claimed a penalty try when the winger was tackled in the air by Ronaldo Mulitalo. Gough adjudicated penalty only.

A captain’s challenge by Harris on William Kennedy’s kick clean-up correctly found that the ball had come off Siosifa Talakai.

Gough was then heard telling Harris that Watene-Zelezniak should cease telling him what to do.

Sharks skipper Cam McInnes unsuccessfully challenged Royce Hunt’s knock-on while the prop forward was being roughed up as if in a maul in rugby.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Cronulla Sharks win 16-12 over New Zealand Warriors | Match Report